In The News

Damascus - President Hafez Assad of Syria tells President Nixon that a lasting peace in the Middle East is not possible without an end to Israeli occupation and the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. “No peace can be established in this region unless a real and just solution is found for the Palestine question.”

Greeted by Vice President Ford, President Nixon returns home from a 10-day Mideast trip. The President said, “A profound and lasting change has taken place” and to “let us be worthy of the hopes, of the trusts of millions of people that most of us will never meet.”

In a Gallup poll - the percentage of Americans who think President Nixon should leave office drops after a long trend up. (Yes he should leave office/No he shouldn’t) Others were undecided:

April - 46% said Yes/41% said no

May - 48% said Yes/37% said no

June - 44% said Yes/42% said no

Fascinating Business news – June 15, 1974

In Germany - Volkswagen unveils a new ‘baby brother’ to the Beetle and introduces a new sub-compact car called “Golf.” It’ll be imported here in the states beginning late this year to supplement, not replace, the Beetle. Its sleek and sporty design - an anathema to the bug, was designed in Italy. The car will sell for over $3,500. A new Beetle currently sells for $2,625. The car is designed to compete with Japanese imports.

Technology news – Dial-A-Joke On Telephones – June 15, 1974

After just three months - “Dial-A-Joke” is a hit and is already making money. The service was introduced by the New York Telephone Company on April 1. Comedians rotate on the service. It debuted with Henny Youngman, Joey Adams, Morey Amsterdam and currently, Phyllis Diller is telling jokes until July 1 For April alone - 3,330,000 calls came into the service. New York Telephone charges its customers by how many calls they make.

Sports news – June 15, 1974

Joe Frazier TKO’s Jerry Quarry in the 5th round at a bout in Madison’s Square Garden. Quarry was cut bad and couldn’t see.

Radio news – June 15, 1974

Will Lewis - General Manager of Pacifica’s KPFK in Los Angeles is jailed for contempt of court after he failed to turn over to a federal grand jury the original tape-recorded message the station received from fugitive newspaper heiress Patty Hearst. The tape was received by the station last week from Miss Hearst and Emily and William Harris - and contained references to the May 17 South Central Los Angeles shootout in which six SLA members were killed.

Available at book store - “Mick Jagger, Everybody’s Lucifer” by Tony Scaduto. The book begins with the death of Brian Jones and climaxes with the events at the Altamont festival.

Bestselling books – June 15, 1974

The Fan Club - Irving Wallace

Watership Down - Richard Adams

The Other Side Of Midnight - Sidney Sheldon

The Snare of the Hunter - Helen Macinnes

Jaws - Peter Benchley

All the President’s Men - Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward

You and Me Babe - Chuck Barris

Alive - Pier P. Read

Working - Studs Terkel

You Can Profit From The Monetary Crisis - Harry Browne

Times to Remember - Rose Kennedy

Plain Speaking - Merle Miller

Entertainment/Celebrity/Television news – June 15, 1974

Dean Martin signs to star in six one-hour “Dean Martin Special Roasts” for next television season. His nine-year contract with NBC for his weekly variety series expired last month and was not renewed, but he’ll continue on the network with these specials.

Peter Falk quits “Columbo” - charging that late payment on the part of Universal - the show’s producer, breached Falk’s contract. His agent, Bill Robinson said - “They’ve always been five or six days late with Peter’s checks, which is not an unusual situation at Universal. But this one was two weeks overdue and we finally said that if it wasn’t here by 2p.m. on Wednesday, they’d be in breach of contract. Falk earned a reported $125 thousand per episode for the part, which also won him an Emmy. “As a favor to the producers, Peter has agreed to finish the second show of the new season, which he is working on now.”

Actress Hedy Lamarr sues funnyman Mel Brooks for $10 million charging he exploited her name and identity in his latest comedy “Blazing Saddles.” The film features a heinous villain named “Hedly Lamarr.” Throughout the film - the villain is addressed as “Heddy” and is completely at a loss to convince people his name is “Hedley.”

Red Foxx - absent from the last six shows of “Sanford and Son” - will be returning next season. Foxx had reportedly been asking for a 25% ownership of the show in addition to his $25 thousand per week salary. Three “Foxxless” episodes have already been produced for the new television season in September. He’ll return for the fourth.

Nancy Walker is signed to play the role of Valerie Harper’s mother in the new series “Rhoda” - debuting this fall on CBS. The show is produced by MTM (Mary Tyler Moore) Enterprises.

Passing - actress Pamela Britton of cancer. Best remembered as the landlady “Mrs Brown” in “My Favorite Martian.” She always baked brownies for her tenant “Tim” (played by Bill Bixby). She also played the title role of the 50’s television series “Blondie.” Her husband is a hotel executive with Gene Autry Enterprises.

Cannon - A judge’s daughter disappears while he is hearing an important case involving a crime syndicate boss.

Joyce at 34 - is a portrait of a woman as she reconciles her desire to have a child, be a good mother and to continue to pursue her career.

On The Tonight Show - McLean Stevenson guest hosts with guest Mac Davis.

Music news – June 15, 1974

On the Sunset Strip - Ray Manzarek - former keyboardist for the “Doors” and his band - appear at the Whiskey this week. His music is described as a well-designed synthesis of late-60’s jazz-rock and some Motown elements.